Motor-vehicle signal



g- 1929- J. L. CASSELL MOTOR VEHICLE SIGNAL Filed Nov 15,

1928 2 Sheets-Sheet I I J L r 25 INVENTOR BY mama Q I Patented .Aug. 6, 1929.

JOSEPH L. CASSELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOTOR-VEHICLE SIGNAL.

Application filed November 15, 1928. Serial No. 319,688.

The objects of this invention are to provide a signal for automobiles and other motor vehicles which will derive its energy from the motor of the vehicle, without appreciably affecting" the operation or the engine; which will furnish a clear sounding, ttarreaching signal of pleasin tone; which may be utilized to give various musical e'tl'ects and which will be oi? relatively simple inexpensive construction readily applicable to present day motor vehicles. I

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by certain novel features t construction, combination and relations of parts as lltilfillltt'llitll described and broadly claimed.

The drawings accon'lpanying and torn'iing part of the specification illustrate certain enibodimcnts of the invention, but it should be understood that the structure may be inedilied as regards this disclosure without departure trom the true spirit and basic scope of the invention.

Fig. 1. is a broken part sectional top plan view illustrating a four toned signal instrument as applied to an automobile; Fig. 2 a, broken side elevational view otthe same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged part vertical sectional view of the instrument taken on substantially the line 3 3 oil? Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a top plan view o't'the instrument illustrating particularly the valve mechanism; Fig. 5 is a further enlarged vertical. sectional view as taken substantially on the plane of line 5 5 at Fig. 3; Fig. (i and 7 are broken cross-sectional and partsectional side elevational views of a n'lodiiied form illustrating electrical in place of the manual control first shown; Fi 8 is a detached plan view of one of the double reed units.

The sounds for the signal are produced. in the present invention by reeds set into vibration by tlow of atmospheric air induced by suction of the intake of the engine. There :i'nay be one or a number o't these reeds. In

the present disclosure, there are tour such reeds shown at 10, 11, 12, 13 having the fundamental :lrequencies o'l 35, 580.655, 731.580 and 870 respectively to give the notes middle Ad). F sharp and treble A, which particular notes canbe combined for playing various tunes and bugle and Tally-I-Io calls. To gain the greatest volume of sound possible, these reeds are preferably double as indicated particularly in the detailed view, Fig. 8, each reed cons' ting of two like spring tongues. These reeds may be of the tree type shown, mounted to vibrate, without contact in the reed throats i l, or if desired, they may be of the striking type employed in instruments of the wood wind type.

The reeds may be mounted in separate reed chambers 10", 11, 12, 3" as in Figs. 1 to 5, or they may be mounted in a common manitl'old chamber 15 as in Figs. 6 and 7, the latter requiring only a. single connection 16 to the n'ianilold and the former requiring in addition to the main connection 16 (Fig. 4) lnanches 13", 12", 11*, 1t to the respective reed chambers. As indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 these so-called branches to the several chambers are provided by forming passages 16 in the topsot the several chan'ibers, connected in series relation by the branch connections 12", 11 and 10" extending from the inner end of passage 16 in one chamber into the outer end ofpassage 16 in the adjoining chamber.

cavity 19 inthe under-face ot the same designed when the valve is shifted into the po sition of the second valve shown in Fig. 4, to establish communication between an upwardly opening passage 20 extending from passage 16 and a passage 2i through the top of the reed chan'iber.

l Vires 22 are shown connected with the valves and leading in the illustration to linger keys 25 mounted on the steering column or other convenient support. Springs 24 connected with the slide valves return them to the position indicated in Fig. 5 when the tinger keys are released, in which position the engine suction in theconduit ending at 20 is cut otl by the valve. \Vhcn however the valve is shifted, against the force of the Valve closing spring to the rightin Fig. 5 and the pass 19 in the valve establishes communication between port 20 and the hole 2i in the top of the reed chamber, engine suction will be applied to this chamber and the reed will be set into vibration.

To amplify the sounds generated by the reeds resonators are preferably employed. These resonators are shown as closed organ pipes 10 li 12 and 13" supported with their open ends below the reeds and with the proper air coupling 25 between the reeds and the open ends of the pipes to effect the proper resonant relation. For this purpose, the pipes may be mounted adjustably so that they can be set in this proper resonant relation, but it has been found most practical to determine this air coupling distance and then fixedly mount the pipes as by means of fastenings such as indicated at 26 in a suitable frame or base 27.

The resonators preferably are of the some natural frequency as the reeds with which they cooperate, and similarly the reed chambers also bear a tuned relation to the reeds. The latter effect may be obtained by making these reed chambers of stopped organ pipes similar to the stopped pipe resonators 10", etc. Vi th this tuned relation between the reeds, reed chambers and resonators. the air drawn through the reeds causes alternatewaves of raritication and condensation to travel in synchronism with the reed movements up and down the tuned pipes producing powerful, but at the same time pleasing tone effects.

These sound effects may be still further strengthened and amplified if desired, by using a born or horns in conjunction with the resonator or resonators, such as indicated at 28 in Fig. 3 where there is shown an exponential type horn attached to the resonator 13 the closed end-of the resonator pipe being shown as a flexible diaphragm 29 for vibrating the air column of the horn.

In use, the instrument has no apparent effect upon the motor, the latter furnishing an ample suction source unaliected by use of the device. At full open throttle when manifold suction is reduced, the signal strength may drop and to overcome this to an extent, a suc tion storage tank 30 may be introduced in the suction line and a check valve 31 may he provided between this tank and the manifold to hold the vacuum in the tank when the manifold pressure rises above that of the tank.

The notes emitted by the instrument con structed as disclosed are clear and harmonious having a true musical value and at the same time are loud enough to serve as a good warnin signal. The valve mechanism maybe controlled arbitrarily by hand, or if desired, the valves may be opened and closed automati cally to reproduce predetermined tunes or sound combinations, a suitable motor for operating the valve mechanism being proa'ided in the latter instance. The employment of stopped organ pipes enables a more compact structure than if open pipes were used and the double reeds provide double condensation and rarification in each pipe. If desired, a small leak may be permitted, for instance, about the valv is so that the reeds will be kept in a tremulous state ready to sprin into full vibration as soon as the suction force is opened thereto. The reed chamber or chambers prevent the reeds from becoming bound and the air coupling between the reeds and organ pipes provide the proper loading of the reeds by the pipes. The tuning of the reed chambcrs to the reeds has the effect of creating a tuned combination with the resonators resulting in a maximum sound output from the reeds. The apparatus is relatively simple and inexpensive, an be easily manufactured and readily connected in operative relation on antomobiles, motor-boats and other vehicles.

Various means may be provided for operating the valves, for example, electromagnets may be employed such as the solenoids shown 30 in Figs. 6 and 7 controlled by switches 31 and having their cores connected with spring closed shutters governing flow of atmospheric air to the threats of the reeds.

it will be evident that when any one of these magnets is energized, air will be induced past the reed at that particular gate or throat and that as soon as the circuit is interrupted, the magnet will. be (lo-energized permitting the spring'shutter to slide closed and shut off the air flow. Two or more of the reeds may be simultaneously energized to produce arious chime effects. The particular combinati on of the four notes described, middle A, D, F sharo and treble A is especially desirable as with these notes many different bugle calls and tunes may be sounded.

.dhat is claimed is:

1. A road warning signal for motor YQlllcles, comprising i. suction actuated sound instrument, having a vibrating reed, an amplifying resonator associated therewith to emit.

a. signal of road warning strength, means for connectin said suction operated road warn ing signal mechanism at will with the intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle, said resonator being tuned to the frequency of the reed and permanently coupled in tuned relation therewith.

2. A road warning signal for motor vehicles, comprising a suction actuated sound instrmnent, having avibrating reed and an amplifying resonator associated therewith to emit a signal of road warning strength. means for connecting said suction operated road warning signal mechanism at will with the intalzemanifold of the motor of the vehicle, the reed having a reed chamber tuned to the frequency of said reet 3. A road warning signal for motor vehicles, comprising a suction actuated sound ingnaw? strument, having a vibrating reed and an amplifying resonator associated therewith to emit a signal of road warning strength, means for connecting said suction operated road warning signal mechanism at will with the intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle, said resonator being tuned to the frequency of the reed and coupled in tuned relation therewith and the reed being associated with a reed chamber tuned to both the frequency of the reed and the resonator.

4. In combination with a motor vehicle, suction operated sound instruments of'dif- :ferent tones and connections between said several suction operated sound. instruments and the intake manifold of the motor, including valve mechanism by which the different instruinei'its may be selectively coupled one at a time to the intake manifold.

5. In combination with a motor vehicle, suction operated sound instruments of dif ferent tones and connections between said several suction operated sound instruments and the intake manifold of the motor, including valve mechanism by which the di'lierent instruments may be selectively coupled to the intake manifold, said suction sound instruments being tuned to the notes middle A, D, F sharp and treble A and controllable by the valve mechanism to play a plurality of recognizable tunes.

(i. A motor vehicle signal comprising reeds tuned to the frequencies of 435, 580.6, 7 31.5 and 870 cycles respectively and stopped organ pipes associated therewith and of the same respective natural frequencies and con uections for subjecting said reeds to the suction pull. of the motor.

7. A road signal for motor vehicles, comprising a plurality of reeds, reed chambers of corresponding frequencies associated with the reeds and resonators of corresponding frequencies in coupled relation with said reeds.

8. A motor vehicle road signal, comprising a reed chamber, means for connecting the same with the intake of the motor, a reed in the bottom of said chamber and an organ pipe in coupled relation to said reed below said reed chamber.

9.111 combination with the intake manifold of a motor, reed chambers of different sizes, means for selectively connecting said chambers with the intake manifold, correspondingly tuned reeds in said chambers and (,sorrespondingly tuned organ pipes in coupled relation to said reeds.

10. In combination with the intake manifold of a motor, a suction operated reed instrmnent, connecting means between said suction operated reed signal instrument and the intake manifold including control valve mechanism and a suction storage tank.

11. A road signal. for motor vehicles, comprising a suction. chamber, a sound emitting reed mounted therein and connections from.

said suction chamber to the intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle including a valve block mounted on the suction chamber, said valve block and suction chamber having cooperating port controlling faces by which communication between the motor intake and interior of the suction chamber may be established and means for relatively shifting said valve block and suction chamber to establish or interrupt such communication.

12. A motor vehicle signal, comprising a reed chamber for connection with the intake manifold of a motor, a reed mounted in the base of said chamber, a slide valve mounted on the top of said chamber, said top of the chamber having a port normally opening the interior of the chamber to atmosphere and further having a port for connection with the engine suction, said slide valve overlying said last named port and having a passage to establish inter-communication between the two ports when the valve is shifted to cover both ports.

13. A suction operated instrument for motor vehicles, comprising in combination with the suction intake of a motor, a doublebladed reed, each blade having the same frequency, means for subjecting said double bladed reed to the action of said suction intake and a resonator associated with said double-bladed reed. I

14. A motor vehicle signal, comprising in combination with the suction intake of a motor, a suction operable reed, means for subjecting said reed to the action of said suction intake, an organ pipe in coupled relation with said reed and an exponential horn actuated by said organ pipe.

15. A road signal for motor vehicles, comprising in combination with the suction intake of a motor, a reed having a desired sound frequency, a stopped organ pipe resonator having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the reed and coiiipled in resonant relation thereto and means for subjecting said reed to the suction flow of said motor intake.

16. A road signal for motor vehicles, comprising a suction operated reed adapted to be connected with the intake manifold of a motor, so as to be actuated by a suction flow of air and a stopped organ pipe resonator arranged with its open end in resonantly coupled relation to said reed.

17. A road, signal for motor vehicles, comprising in combination with a sound reed and means for subjecting the same at will. to the suction pull of the motor, a chamber for said reed. and a resonator pipe in air coupled relation to the reed and opposed to a wall of the reed chamber.

18. A motor vehicle signal comprising in combination with a motor adapted to create a pressure flow, a double bladed pressure flow operated reed, the blades of said reed having the same frequency and means for connecting said double bladed reed into the circulation of pressure fluid created by said motor.

19. A motor vehicle signal, comprising in combination with a motor adapted to create a flow of pressure fluid, a sounding reed,

means for subjecting said reed to the flow of pressure fluid created by said motor, a resonator in coupled relation to said reed and an 10 exponential horn actuated by said resonator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH L. CASSELL. 

